A remarkable chapter in Gresham’s history has come full circle with the recent restoration of two stunning stained-glass windows to Big School Hall, exactly one hundred years after their original installation.

The windows, depicting St Cecilia and the Cimerian Sibyl, were originally gifted to the school in 1925 by Mr D.A Wynne Willson, on his retirement. Crafted by the renowned firm Morris & Co. from designs by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, these works of art are part of a trio of stained-glass lights. The third window in the set now resides in Frome Church, Somerset.

What makes these windows particularly special is their journey. Before arriving at Gresham’s, they were housed in a residence in Oxford where Burne-Jones himself was known to stay. Mr Wynne Willson (a long-standing member of staff) acquired them in 1919, and they have since become treasured artefacts of the school’s heritage, especially notable for predating the school’s move to its current Cromer Road site.

Now, thanks to the expert craftsmanship of Devlin Plummer Stained Glass, who specialise in the conservation and restoration of stained windows and lead glazing work, the windows (both stained and non-stained) have been restored to their original splendour. Their return not only enhances the architectural beauty of Big School Hall but also reconnects the present-day school with its rich artistic and historical legacy.

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